Opening Tonight 11.06.09

If you're in the Carlsbad, CA area and looking for something fun to do tonight be sure and stop by the Perfect Frame & Gallery between 5pm and 8pm for the opening of Steven Bundy's new photography show.  The show will run through the month of November but tonight there will be food and drink and happy socializing.  If you're not in the area you can see Steve's work by clicking here.

Perfect Frame & Gallery

2808 Roosevelt Street

Carlsbad CA

Maynard Dixon Clouds

Just finished this one, a 9x12 practice piece.  One of my favorite artists is Maynard Dixon and I've admired his clouds for a long time.   It was fun to try to do something similar and I feel good about the way they turned out.  I wish I had divided this composition a little differently, wish the foreground was only about 1/3 of the canvas and the sky was the biggest part.  But, that's what you learn with each canvas, what works and what doesn't, what to do and not do on your next painting.  I'm enjoying painting small.

Aerial View - Ranchos Church

16x20 Oil on Canvas

Painted from a photo by Lenny Foster

with his permission

Lenny Foster is a very talented photographer who lives in Taos, NM.  He's also one of my Facebook

friends and when he recently posted his photo of this unique view of the famous church in Ranchos de Taos,

I got up my nerve and emailed asking for permission to paint his image.  He very graciously gave his permission and here is the work in progress.

I like it in this state but I'm thinking that it might need more work in the background mountain area.

I'm just not sure and have decided to live with it for awhile and wait for it to tell me if it needs any more work.  I want to leave it loose, since the church is the main focus I don't want to get carried away with the background. 

As you know if you follow my blog I haven't painted in awhile and it sure felt good to

pick up those brushes and muck around in the paint.

Iglesia del Grande Cielo

My newest favorite image from
 Steven Bundy photography. 

Welcome to the World Kelsie

My neice and her husband presented our family with a brand new member 13 days ago, Kelsie Lynn. Welcome to the world!

Life has been busy and hectic since my last post, my husband Steve is preparing for his first solo photograph show this coming Saturday and all energy has been directed toward that effort. I haven't painted in over a month but have three ideas percolating inside my head. Hopefully after the show I'll be able to settle down and pick up those brushes again.

You can view Steve's wonderful photograpy by clicking on his name.

Albuquerque Art Museum - Craig Varjabedian

If you're near Albuquerque, New Mexico - the Albuquerque Art Museum is opening a new show featuring the amazing photography of Craig Varjabedian. Sunday July 12, 2009

from 1-4pm. Craig will give a short talk at 1pm and will then be available to sign his books.

The show will be at the museum from Sunday, July 12th through October 11, 2009. So, even if you can't attend this weekend you will have ample time to visit. Besides being an amazing photographer, Craig is a wonderful person and an interesting speaker - I highly recommend this event and hope you can attend.

Of course if you don't live anywhere near Alburquerque you can still enjoy his work by clicking on the picture of his book (above) and you'll go directly to his web site.

Llano San Juan 30"x48"

Finally put the finishing touches on this painting and it's all done. I've very happy with the way it turned out and feel that I learned a lot in the process - so I guess you can't ask for more than that.